Helix-like config for IdeaVim

.ideavimrc

" Based on comment by mchlstckl
" https://www.reddit.com/r/HelixEditor/comments/14aqztf/comment/jocslxs/
" Check the history of this gist for a changelist

" Read NOTES and WARNINGS lower


" Must be done first to tell other plugins that <space> is the leader key
let mapleader=" "

set clipboard+=unnamed
set clipboard+=ideaput
set ideajoin
set idearefactormode=keep
set ignorecase
set smartcase
set incsearch
set relativenumber
set showmode
set hlsearch
set visualbell
set commentary
" Can be installed / enabled with command from the comment
set surround " Plug 'tpope/vim-surround' " (https://github.com/tpope/vim-surround/blob/master/doc/surround.txt)
set highlightedyank " Plug 'machakann/vim-highlightedyank' " (https://github.com/machakann/vim-highlightedyank/blob/master/doc/highlightedyank.txt)
set argtextobj " Plug 'vim-scripts/argtextobj.vim' " (https://github.com/JetBrains/ideavim/wiki/IdeaVim-Plugins#argtextobj)
set matchit " Plug 'chrisbra/matchit' " (https://github.com/adelarsq/vim-matchit/blob/master/doc/matchit.txt)


" Recommended plugins:
" ====================
"
" INFO: 
" This section contains plugins that I found useful.
" Uncomment plugin to enable it
" Plugins website:
" https://github.com/JetBrains/ideavim/wiki/IdeaVim-Plugins

" " Indent Object
" " Docs: https://github.com/michaeljsmith/vim-indent-object/blob/master/doc/indent-object.txt
" Plug 'michaeljsmith/vim-indent-object'

" " Vim textobj entire
" " Docs: https://github.com/kana/vim-textobj-entire/blob/master/doc/textobj-entire.txt
" Plug 'kana/vim-textobj-entire' 

" " NERDTree
" " Docs: https://github.com/JetBrains/ideavim/wiki/NERDTree-support
" Plug 'preservim/nerdtree'

" " Exchange plugin
" " Docs: https://github.com/tommcdo/vim-exchange/blob/master/doc/exchange.txt
" Plug 'tommcdo/vim-exchange'

" " Multiple cursors plugin
" " Docs: https://github.com/JetBrains/ideavim/wiki/IdeaVim-Plugins#multiple-cursors
" Plug 'terryma/vim-multiple-cursors'

" " Which key plugin
" " Install: https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/15976-which-key
" " Docs: https://github.com/TheBlob42/idea-which-key?tab=readme-ov-file#installation
" set which-key
" set timeoutlen=10000

" " Sneak plugin
" " Install (alternative syntax): Plug 'justinmk/vim-sneak' 
" " Docs: https://github.com/Mishkun/ideavim-sneak
" set sneak

" " Quickscope plugin
" " Install: https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/19417-ideavim-quickscope
" " Docs: https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/19417-ideavim-quickscope
" set quickscope
" " Configure which keys to highlight on
" " let g:qs_highlight_on_keys = ['f', 'F', 't', 'T']


" " Other plugins: 
" " ==============

" " Vim paragraph motion
" " Docs: https://github.com/dbakker/vim-paragraph-motion#vim-paragraph-motion
" Plug 'dbakker/vim-paragraph-motion'

" " EasyMotion plugin
" " Requires: https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/7086-acejump
" " Install: https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/13360-ideavim-easymotion/
" " Docs: https://github.com/AlexPl292/IdeaVim-EasyMotion?tab=readme-ov-file#how-does-it-work
" set easymotion

" " Multicursor plugin (not recommended, honestly)
" set multicursor

" Key mappings:
" =============

" " make x a line selection (READ WARNING below)
" nnoremap x V
" vnoremap x j

" " WARNING:
" " Remapping x to V and j makes it impossible to delete single character.
" " You can use this to enable deleting with d, but then you cannot execute d<motion>

" nnoremap d x

" inoremap <A-BS> <Action>(EditorDeleteToWordStart)

" Quick access with '\' leader
" ============================

" NOTE:
" This actions are found useful by me.
" You can (*should*) customize them to your liking.
" Hence most of them are commented out (they require plugins)

" IdeaVim utilites
" ----------------

" Quick edit ideavimrc file
map \\e :e ~/.ideavimrc<CR>

" Reload ideavim
map \\r <Action>(IdeaVim.ReloadVimRc.reload)

" Settings -> plugins quick access
map \\p <Action>(WelcomeScreen.Plugins)

" Allows to quickly toggle action identification (notification)
map \\a <Action>(VimFindActionIdAction)

" Scratch buffers and files
" -------------------------
map \\ss <Action>(NewScratchBuffer)
map \\sb \\ss
map \\sf <Action>(NewScratchFile)
map \\sl <Action>(Scratch.ShowFilesPopup)

" Editor utilities
" ----------------
map \\tf <Action>(ToggleFullScreen)
map \\tz <Action>(ToggleDistractionFreeMode)
map \\tw <Action>(EditorToggleShowWhitespaces)
" Change theme
map \\tt <Action>(ChangeLaf)
" Switch theme (REQUIRES https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/21998-theme-switcher)
" map \\ts <Action>(com.intellij.themeswitcher.ThemeSwitcherAction)
map \\tb <Action>(ToggleLineBreakpoint)
map \\nc <Action>(ClearAllNotifications)
map \\ti <Action>(ToggleInlayHintsGloballyAction)
map \\tr <Action>(ToggleReadOnlyAttribute)
" REQUIRES https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/7499-gittoolbox
" map \\tb <Action>(GitToolBox.ShowInlineBlame)
" REQUIRES https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/16873-test-data
" map \\g <Action>(GenerateTestDataAction)

" use \tm as m for marks to work
noremap \\tm m

" NerdTree
" ========

" " REQUIRES NerdTree
" map \\nt :NERDTree<CR>
" map \\nts :NERDTree<CR>
" map \\nta :NERDTreeFocus<CR>
" map \\ntt :NERDTreeToggle<CR>
" map \\ntc :NERDTreeClose<CR>
" map \\ntf :NERDTreeFind<CR>
" map \\ntr :NERDTreeRefreshRoot<CR>
" " END REQUIRES NerdTree

" String manipulation
" ===================

" " REQUIRES String manipulation plugin (https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/2162-string-manipulation)
" " \\ = string manipulation popup window
" map \\\\ <Action>(osmedile.intellij.stringmanip.PopupChoiceAction)
"
" vmap gU <Action>(osmedile.intellij.stringmanip.ToUpperCaseAction)
" vmap gu <Action>(osmedile.intellij.stringmanip.ToLowerCaseAction)
" vmap gC <Action>(StringManipulation.Group.SwitchCase)
"
" map g' <Action>(osmedile.intellij.stringmanip.swap.SwapQuote)
" map g# <Action>(StringManipulation.Group.IncrementDecrement)
" map g\\ <Action>(osmedile.intellij.stringmanip.RepeatAction)
"
" map <C-a> <Action>(osmedile.intellij.stringmanip.IncrementAction)
" map <C-A-a> <Action>(osmedile.intellij.stringmanip.DuplicateAndIncrementAction)
" map <C-x> <Action>(osmedile.intellij.stringmanip.DecrementAction)
" map <C-A-x> <Action>(osmedile.intellij.stringmanip.DuplicateAndDecrementAction)
" map <C-A-s> <Action>(StringManipulation.CreateSequenceAction)
" map <A-S-s> <Action>(StringManipulation.IncrementDuplicateNumbersAction)
" " END REQUIRES String manipulation plugin


" Editor actions
" ==============

" IDEA contexts
" -------------
nmap \\cs <Action>(context.save)
nmap \\cl <Action>(context.load)
nmap \\cc <Action>(context.clear)
nmap \\cf <Action>(tasks.and.contexts)

" Indentation
" -----------
" This (un)indent selection does not get rid of the selection
vmap < <Action>(EditorUnindentSelection)
vmap > <Action>(EditorIndentLineOrSelection)

" Other
" -----

vmap <C-r> <Action>(Replace)
vmap s <Action>(Find)
" Alt+s - adds a caret at the end of each selected line
vmap <A-s> <Action>(EditorAddCaretPerSelectedLine)

" Add another caret below current one
map <A-c> <Action>(EditorCloneCaretBelow)
" An alternative is: Ctrl, Ctrl + arrows

" Move line up / down
map <a-up> <Action>(MoveLineUp)
map <a-k> <a-up>
map <a-down> <Action>(MoveLineDown)
map <a-j> <a-down>

" Extend selection / shrink selection
map <a-o> <Action>(EditorSelectWord)
map <a-i> <Action>(EditorUnSelectWord)

" Duplicate line up / down
map <a-s-down> <Action>(EditorDuplicate)
map <a-s-j> <a-s-down>
map <a-s-up> <Action>(EditorDuplicate)<Action>(MoveLineUp)
map <a-s-k> <a-s-up>

" These two are moved to the multicursor section
" vmap <C-n> <Action>(SelectNextOccurrence)
" vmap <C-p> <Action>(UnselectPreviousOccurrence)

" map m to v for 'miw' and similar actions
nnoremap m v
nnoremap mm %

" Simulate % behavior
nnoremap % ggVG

" This was supposed to be a mapping for 'mim', but it is broken
" vnoremap im %v%

" Bookmarks
" ---------
map <C-A-k0> <Action>(ToggleBookmarkWithMnemonic)
" This one collides with the one above, so i turned it off
" nmap <C-A-k0> <Action>(ToggleBookmark0)
map <C-A-k1> <Action>(ToggleBookmark1)
map <C-A-k2> <Action>(ToggleBookmark2)
map <C-A-k3> <Action>(ToggleBookmark3)
map <C-A-k4> <Action>(ToggleBookmark4)
map <C-A-k5> <Action>(ToggleBookmark5)
map <C-A-k6> <Action>(ToggleBookmark6)
map <C-A-k7> <Action>(ToggleBookmark7)
map <C-A-k8> <Action>(ToggleBookmark8)
map <C-A-k9> <Action>(ToggleBookmark9)

" Undo and redo
" -------------
" OR: noremap U <C-r>
map U <Action>($Redo)
map u <Action>($Undo)

" Editor utilities and settings
" -----------------------------
nmap <c-z> <Action>(ToggleDistractionFreeMode)
map <c-c> <Action>(CommentByLineComment)

" Ctrl+Enter = noh
map <leader><cr> :nohlsearch<CR>

" Jump history forward/back
map <c-o> <Action>(Back)
map <c-i> <Action>(Forward)

map <leader>z <Action>(ChangeIdeScale)
map <leader>uh <Action>(ToggleInlayHintsGloballyAction)
map <leader>uw <Action>(EditorToggleShowWhitespaces)

" Copy and paste
" --------------
map <leader>p <Action>($Paste)
map <leader>P <Action>(PasteMultiple)
map <leader>y <Action>($Copy)
map <leader>Y <Action>(CopyReferencePopupGroup)

" Builtin terminal
" ----------------
map <c-t> <Action>(ActivateTerminalToolWindow)
map <leader>t <Action>(Terminal.OpenInTerminal)

" Windows and tabs
" ----------------
map <c-w>v <Action>(SplitVertically)
map <c-w>s <Action>(SplitHorizontally)
map <c-w>W <Action>(MoveEditorToOppositeTabGroup)
map <leader>T <Action>(EditorTabPopupMenu)

map <c-w>w <Action>(NextWindow)
map <leader>q <Action>(CloseContent)
map <leader>Q <Action>(CloseAllEditors)
map <leader>x <Action>(HideAllWindows)

" previous/next tab
map gp <Action>(PreviousTab)
map gn <Action>(NextTab)

" Goto actions
" ------------
map ]d <Action>(GotoNextError)
map [d <Action>(GotoPreviousError)
map ]g <Action>(VcsShowNextChangeMarker)
map [g <Action>(VcsShowPrevChangeMarker)
map ]m <Action>(MethodDown)
map [m <Action>(MethodUp)
map ]p <Action>(EditorForwardParagraph)
map [p <Action>(EditorBackwardParagraph)
map ]P <Action>(EditorForwardParagraphWithSelection)
map [P <Action>(EditorBackwardParagraphWithSelection)

" Popup tool windows, pickers and panels
" --------------------------------------
map <leader>r <Action>(Refactorings.QuickListPopupAction)
map <leader>= <Action>(ReformatCode)
map <leader>j <Action>(RecentLocations)

map gR <Action>(FindUsages)
" show usages is a popup so it is 'default'
map gr <Action>(ShowUsages)
map gi <Action>(GotoImplementation)
map gd <Action>(GotoDeclaration)
map gT <Action>(GotoTest)
map gy <Action>(GotoTypeDeclaration)
" original binding
" nmap gp <Action>(GotoSuperMethod)

" intelliJ search popup
map <leader>S <Action>(GotoSymbol)
map <leader>s <Action>(FileStructurePopup)
" OR alternatively
" :nmap <leader>s <Action>(GotoSymbol)
map <leader>F <Action>(FindInPath)
map <leader>f <Action>(GotoFile)
map <c-f> <Action>(ActivateFindToolWindow)

map <leader>g <Action>(Vcs.QuickListPopupAction)
map <leader>b <Action>(RecentFiles)

map <leader>d <Action>(ActivateProblemsViewToolWindow)

map <leader>n <Action>(Switcher)
map <leader>B <Action>(RecentChangedFiles)
" NOTE:
" RecentChangedFiles displays list of edited files. To show all, press C-e
" or you can simply show a list of all files
" nmap <leader>B <Action>(GotoFile)

" Mimics helix fuzzy-find command
map <leader>? <Action>(GotoAction)
" You can substitute this for <leader>? to search everything not only actions
map <leader>e <Action>(SearchEverywhere)
map <leader>o <Action>(ActivateProjectToolWindow)
map <leader>O <Action>(SelectInProjectView)
map <leader>E <Action>(EditorActions)

" Helix-like motions
" ------------------
map gh 0
map gs ^
map gl $
map ge G

" Refactorings and LSP actions
" ----------------------------
map <leader>a <Action>(ShowIntentionActions)
map <s-k> <Action>(ExpressionTypeInfo)
map <leader>k <Action>(QuickJavaDoc)
map <leader><A-k> <Action>(ShowHoverInfo)
map <leader><A-S-k> <Action>(ShowErrorDescription)
map <A-S-k> <Action>(ShowErrorDescription)
map <leader>K <Action>(QuickImplementations)

" REQUIRES HarpoonIJ

" map <leader><C-h> :action SetHarpoon1<cr>
" map <leader><C-j> :action SetHarpoon2<cr>
" map <leader><C-k> :action SetHarpoon3<cr>
" map <leader><C-l> :action SetHarpoon4<cr>
"
" map <C-h> :action GotoHarpoon1<cr>
" map <C-j> :action GotoHarpoon2<cr>
" map <C-k> :action GotoHarpoon3<cr>
" map <C-l> :action GotoHarpoon4<cr>
"
" map <C-e> :action ShowHarpoon<cr>
" map <C-a> :action AddToHarpoon<cr>

" END REQUIRES HarpoonIJ

" REQUIRES Harpooner

" map <C-e> <Action>(com.github.erotourtes.harpoon.pluginsGroup)
" map <leader><C-e> <Action>(HarpoonerAddFile)
" 
" map <C-h> <Action>(HarpoonerOpenFile0)
" map <C-j> <Action>(HarpoonerOpenFile1)
" map <C-k> <Action>(HarpoonerOpenFile2)
" map <C-l> <Action>(HarpoonerOpenFile3)
" map <C-S-h> <Action>(HarpoonerOpenFile4)
" map <C-S-j> <Action>(HarpoonerOpenFile5)
" map <C-S-k> <Action>(HarpoonerOpenFile6)
" map <C-S-l> <Action>(HarpoonerOpenFile7)

" END REQUIRES Harpooner


" REQUIRES multiple-cursors

" " Remap multiple-cursors shortcuts to match terryma/vim-multiple-cursors
" map <C-n> <Plug>NextWholeOccurrence
" " Does not work on column selection mode
" map g<C-n> <Plug>NextOccurrence
" vmap <C-S-n> <Plug>SkipOccurrence
" map <C-p> <Plug>RemoveOccurrence
" 
" " Note that the default <A-n> and g<A-n> shortcuts don't work on Mac due to dead keys.
" " <A-n> is used to enter accented text e.g. ñ
" " Alternatively use the Unicode hex keyboard in macOS
" map <S-C-n> <Plug>AllWholeOccurrences
" map g<S-C-n> <Plug>AllOccurrences

" END REQUIRES multiple-cursors


""" Running and Debugging
nmap ,r <Action>(ContextRun)
nmap ,R <Action>(Run)
nmap ,s <Action>(Stop)
nmap ,c <Action>(RunClass)
nmap ,f <Action>(ChooseRunConfiguration)
nmap ,t <Action>(ActivateRunToolWindow)
nmap ,u <Action>(Rerun)
nmap ,f <Action>(RerunFailedTests)
nmap ,b <Action>(ToggleLineBreakpoint)
nmap ,d <Action>(ContextDebug)
nmap ,n <Action>(ActivateDebugToolWindow)
nmap ,p <Action>(XDebugger.AttachToProcess)

Thanks for this. It's super helpful !

Do you think there is a way to implement gw ? That's one of the commands I use the most in Helix.

Thanks for this. It's super helpful !

Do you think there is a way to implement gw ? That's one of the commands I use the most in Helix.

Hi!
Until February 2024 there was a plugin IdeaVim Sneak that implemented this functionality. Now it is archived, but take a look here:
JetBrains/ideavim#818 (comment)
It is part of core IdeaVim now, and should be able to be enabled by simply setting:

map gw <Plug>Sneak_s
map gW <Plug>Sneak_S

If it works for you then I'll add it to the gist soon.

Thanks for the quick answer. I've tried it but it didn't work for now.
But I've just copy/pasted your Gist as it is without trying to understand it yet so it's very probable I've done something wrong.

Same 🤷 can't seem to get it working. I still only have access to the vim keybindings despite uncommenting a lot of keybinds...